The US Drug Enforcement Administration has released notice of proposed rulemaking on telepharmacy regulations. State regulatory authorities, professional associations, and the general public are invited to provide input "to more clearly identify how the telepharmacy practice operates and what industry-standard practices have developed over recent years."
November 23, 2021
November 03, 2021
Increased demand for mental health care workers
The National Health Interview Survey found an increase in the percentage of adults who had received mental health treatment in the past 12 months - up to 20.3% in 2020 compared to 19.2% in 2019. The data show a disparity in treatment options for rural versus urban populations. Expanding telehealth options could increase access to care, including access to specialized care.
October 28, 2021
Pennsylvania Senate passes telemedicine bill
The Pennsylvania Senate has approved a telemedicine bill aimed at overcoming distance-related barriers to patient care and reducing costs of services. The bill sets out a definition of telemedicine as "the delivery of health care services provided through telecommunications technology to a patient by a health care practitioner who is at a different location." The bill directs licensing boards to develop rules related to scope of practice and standards of care to allow anyone with a Pennsylvania medical license to provide telemedicine services. The bill also sets out requirements for insurance company reimbursement for telemedicine services.
September 22, 2021
Alaska considers bills for expanded telehealth and compact participation
Two bills have been introduced during a special legislative session in Alaska in response to the need for additional licensed healthcare professionals due to the ongoing COVID-19 surge. One bill would expand telehealth to allow out-of-state providers to offer telehealth services to Alaska patients without obtaining an Alaska license if they are in good standing in their home jurisdiction. Another bill would allow Alaska to join the Nurse Licensure Compact.
September 16, 2021
Researchers propose framework for reshaping the health workforce
Researchers with Health Affairs Journal have proposed a health workforce policies framework to "ensure that the significant investments of public funds into various health workforce programs are spent effectively and yield improved patient and population health outcomes." The framework focuses on the production of healthcare workers to address population health priorities, workforce distribution and expansion of telehealth to address gaps by specialty and setting, workforce resilience by addressing financial and emotional security and safety of health workers, and maximizing potential by addressing scope of practice and reconfiguration of teams within health systems.
September 02, 2021
CSG releases report assessing COVID-19 occupational licensing policy actions
The Council of State Governments has released a report, "Assessing COVID-19 Occupational Licensing Policy Actions." The report details emergency policies enacted by states during the pandemic, including temporary and expedited licensure, expanded scopes of practice, telelhealth, and suspension or waiver of licensing requirements. The report recommends strategies to improve state resiliency against disaster events, including recommendations for telehealth policies, features needed for modernized online licensing systems, and interstate compacts. The report also encourages use of an independent committee to assess the performance, benefits, and concerns of any emergency policies to determine which are suited to become permanent.
New licensing laws in effect in Texas
Several laws went into effect September 1 affecting the Texas department of Licensing and Regulation. The TDLR has been extended for 12 years, with the next sunset review scheduled for 2033. Some professions have been deregulated: polygraph examiners, wig stylists and wig salons, and combative sports event coordinator and others. The barbering program and the cosmetology program are combined into a new board. Under SB40 and HB4, telehealth and telemedicine will be allowed for programs administered by TDLR.
August 12, 2021
Indiana: federal court strikes down abortion law restrictions
A federal judge in Indiana has struck down a ban on using telemedicine for abortion care. Abortion providers will now be able to offer medication abortion via telemedicine and informed consent documentation via virtual care. Patients will no longer have to have an in-person physical exam before a medication abortion, and advanced practice clinicians such as physician assistants and nurse practitioners will have authority to dispense abortion-inducing drugs. Also, doctors will no longer be required to provide patients with certain pre-care information that the judge found to be without scientific evidence and misleading.
June 30, 2021
New York: telehealth waivers expire, but new guidance issued
The governor's office in New York has declared that the telehealth emergency waivers have expired, but the New York State Department of Health has issued a new guidance document maintaining the ability of Medicaid providers to use telemedicine and digital health as long as the federal public health emergency is in effect. The Department of Health may issue permanent Medicaid telehealth rules in the near future. The current guidance defines telehealth, allows the patient's home to be the originating site for healthcare delivery, and allows the distant site (where the provider is located) to be anywhere within the United States or its territories.
March 24, 2021
Florida bill considers veterinary telemedicine
SB 1370 under consideration in Florida would redefine the veterinarian/client/patient relationship and allow for veterinary telemedicine. A Veterinarian/client/patient relationship could be established in-person or via audio-visual technology. Veterinary telemedicine would not require a physical exam for telemedicine services such as consultation and prescription of drugs for nutrition, training, dermatalogical conditions and anxiety.
